Adjustable handle for receptacle covers



April 23,1935! H. P. M MILLAN ADJUSTABLE HANDLE FOR RECEPTACLE COVERS Original Filed May 9, 1935 Patented Apr. 23, 1935 UNITED stares f ADJUSTABLE HANDLE Fen RECEPTACLE COVERS Hugh P. McMillan, Baltimore,-Md., assignor to Samuel M. Dell anol'Com'pany, Inc., Baltimore,

' Application May 9,1933, Serial No'. 670,159

" Renewed February 18, 1935 3 Claims.

lar construction of the adjustable handle as herein more fully described and pointed out in the claims. I r

Although this invention is applicable for use with receptacle covers and various devices which may be secured to the inner surfaces thereof, such as spoons, dips, etc., made of metal or other suitable material, it is especially adapted for use with covers in combination with brushes of the paint and varnish type and to receptacles of small cubic content which may be designated as touch-up cans, or 'to' more particularly describe a can of paint or varnish which is conveniently portable and easily packed inasmall space when not in use, as for instance the tool compartment of an automobile, the brush being attached to the inner surface of the cover and lodged inside the can and the a'djustable handle formation being. positioned on the outer side of said. cover. This cannot be done with the usual combination of 'cover and brush because the extending brush handle makesfit impracticable anddifiicult to stack or store the cans. Referring to the drawing,-Figure 1 is a vertical section through the upper portion of a paint receptacle showing the improved construction of my adjustable handle formation in conjunction with a receptacle cover and a brush, the finger lifts of the adjustable handle being raised for use. The metallic receptacle as illustrated has a cover of the friction type having an annular groove near its circumference, but it is to be understood that the adjustable handle formation as shown is also adaptable to a fiat surface cover of either friction, screw or other type. Figure 2 is an enlarged section of the adjustable handle formation with the finger lifts depressed to the body plate from which they are struck'out. In the drawing the position of the U shaped flanged ends of the body plate of the handle formation is slight- 1y exaggerated to illustrate the gripping action of said ends within the annular groove in the surface of the cover. Figure 3 is similar to Figure 2 but shows the finger lifts raised for use and also indicates how the body plate of the handle formation isfiexed to a slightly bowed or curved position when the finger lifts'are so raised, thereby increasing the frictional grip of the U shaped fiangedends of said body plate against the walls of the annular groove in the surface of the cover. Figure 4 is a view of the upper surface of a receptacle cover and the handle formation with the finger lifts depressed to the bodyplate and to the surface of the cover. Figure 5 is a View of the upper surface of the handle formation as modified'to follow the contour of the receptacle cover. Figure 6 is a sectional View of the handle formation as adapted to the surface of a receptacle cover of the fiat-top screw type.

The handle formation is made of a single piece of malleable metal in'a shape preferably that of a band or strip as indicated at 2 although it may be shaped to follow' the circular contour of the cover l' to which it is adapted as shown at 9, the metal being of suitable strength and thickness for flexibility and to allow the finger lifts 3 to be struck from the central part of the body plate, said finger lifts being oppositely directed and separated from one another by a section 4 of uncut metal of the said body plate and of'a length extending approximately from such uncut section to the U shaped flanged ends 5 of the band or strip plate or the'U shaped flanged edge of the circular plate.

When in use in combination with a receptacle cover of the'fri ction type a novel feature of the invention exists in the handle formation in that each end of the band or strip plate 2, or the outer edge of the circular plate 9, is shaped to follow the contour of the receptacle cover and bent in the form of a U shaped flange 5 to coincide with and fit into the annular groove 6 in said receptacle cover. The U shaped flange 5 being adapted to fit closely in the annular groove 6 of the receptacle cover it thereby forms a friction lock with said cover 5 and the raising of the finger lifts 3 from the body plate 2 of the handle formation to an upright position imposes a tension upon the uncut portions of said body plate and increases the frictional hold of the U shaped flanged ends 5 upon the wall of the groove 6 to such an extent that the body plate is securely attached to the cover.

The oppositely directed ends of the finger lifts '3 may be indented or dished as shown at l to increase the finger grip, a slight concave surface being formed when the ends of the finger lifts are raised and a convex surface when the finger lifts are adjusted or depressed to the body plate of the handle formation and the surface of the receptacle cover. 55

The handle formation may be secured to the surface of a receptacle cover of the friction type as heretofore particularly described, or it may be secured to the surface of a receptacle cover of the friction type or to the surface of acover of the screw type and the like by means of turning or crimping the ends of the band or strip plate, or the outer edge of the circular plate, over the edge of said cover at its circumference as shown at 8, but it is to be understood however that the securing means is not necessarily limited to those illustrated but can be extended to any means through which a like result may be obtained.

In painting it is frequently desirable to allow coats are to be applied to an article with" proper intervals for drying or small surfaces are to be touched up, but as paint or varnish is subject to" oxidation and evaporation when exposed to the atmosphere for any length of time it would be detrimental to the contents of the receptacle if it were left uncovered for any considerable period. With my invention of a handle formation for receptacle covers the attached brushes may be allowed to remain in the paint or varnish without interfering withthe air and liquid tight connection between the cover and the receptacle.

When it is desired to use the contentsof a receptacle of the friction-seal type the handle formation is positioned to the surface of the cover I, the cover disengaged from the receptacle, the finger lifts 3 raised from the body plate 2 of the handle formation to a position approximately at right angle thereto, and the cover with its attached brush lifted from the receptacle. After use the cover is replaced with brush within the receptacle and tightly sealed, the finger lifts are depressed to the body plate of the handle formation and the surface of the cover, and the receptacle thus placed in a condition for storage, or the handle formation may be detached from the surface of the cover by a downward pressure upon its central portion to relieve the tension caused by the flexing metal and release the frictional grip of the U shaped flanged ends from the annular groove in said cover.

When used in connection with a receptacle cover of the screw or other type having a flat surface the handle formation may be. adapted thereto by clamping the ends of the band or strip plate to the edge of the cover as indicated at 8, or securely clamping the circumference of the circular plate to the edge of the cover, and the finger lifts are raised and lowered as is hereinbefore particularly set forth. a

Itis of course understood that although illustrated in connection with a cover and brush combination my invention of an adjustable handle formation is not necessarily restricted to "receptacles of the paint and varnish. type, but is adaptable to all kinds of metallic covers, flat, surfaced, recessed, and the like, whether of the friction, screw or other type and also that it may be of composite construction, as for instance a fibrous material reinforced with a metallic substance, and used with receptacles other than metallic and to the covers of which may be affixed any suitable device to be used therewith, such as a spoon for amustard jar, a liquid dauber, etc. As various changes may be made in the size,

shape andfcharacter of the above embodiment without departing from the spirit of the inventionall matter hereinset forth is to beinterpreted 2. A handle, for attachment to ,a receptacle cover having an annular groove, comprising a single sheet of metal provided at each end with an arcuate flange engageable in said groove and frictionally locking'against a wall of. the groove when the plate is flexed in one direction and having oppositely directed finger elements struck out from the central portion of the metal.

3. A handle for attachment'to a receptacle cover having an'annulargroove, comprising a body plate having integral end formations providing arcuate flanges engageable. in said groove and, oppositely directed finger elements bendable toward and from each other struck out from the central portion of the plate. H a

V HUGH P. h 

